Today, I am simply NOT Mary F’ing Sunshine. One of the joys of running a small business (or having any kind of job, really) is that usually, you really like it. “Usually,” however, is the clutch. There are days when you just won’t like it. You’ll be in a shitty mood, either from work or something else, yet you still have to go in and smile like you’re the happiest person in the world, not a thing bothers you, and life is just a bowl of ripe, freaking peaches. See the problem? I’m having one of those days now. It’s a fun little combination of things. A fight with the fiancé. A bad workout, coupled with a trainer who weighs about [...]

When I boarded my flight Wednesday morning from Denver to Houston to connect to a flight to Asheville for my speech on Thursday, I tweeted out a question. I said “I’ve got roughly five hours in the air today. How can I help you? You’ve got 45 minutes to respond.” And people did! So briefly, here’s what people asked, and my answers: @andreahrizk said that she needs exposure about a shortage of interactive talent in the advertising industry, and included a link: http://imediaconnection.com/content/28737.asp – I think she has a point – Small interactive ad shops can’t offer the same “possibility of instant riches” that tech startups, whether they be in a basement or in the Google offices, can. As such, [...]

It happens to all of us. We’re up against a deadline, and have zero creativity. It’s just gone. No idea why. And finding it again, under pressure, is a bitch. This is another post in the series of How To Be Taken Seriously. Because, face it – If you become the guy known for having creativity whenever it’s needed, you’ll be the go-to guy (or girl) for almost everyone in your company. And being indispensable kinda rocks. Ever notice how some things are really easy to find? “Now where did I put my car keys? Ah yes, in my coat pocket.” “Honey, where’s the dog?” “He’s in the backyard!” Other things, as well! “Officer, can you tell me how to [...]

(Cross-posted at Shankman.com and A Year to Ten Percent.) I’ve already gotten about 30 party invites, have had two hotels ask me if I need comped rooms, and been offered several dinners, rides, and the like for this year’s South by Southwest festival. And I’ve had to turn them all down, because this year, I’m not going. Say you’re not going to Southby (as the “cool kids” call it,) and you’re looked at like you just turned down a backrub from the next door neighbor on The Big Bang Theory. So I’m putting it out here, why I’m not attending the huge festival of South and West. 1) I’m busy. This is the simple reason. I’ve got two paid speaking [...]

By now, most of you know that I’m a super-early riser. If you do some homework on the subject, you’ll find that many successful CEOs are, as well. It’s simply ingrained into us – If we want to be successful, we need to be working when others are not. It’s like the classic running quote: “Somewhere, right now, someone is training while you are not. When you race him, he will win.” So I get up early because I believe it’s worth it. Here’s some of the benefits you can get from doing it, and as a bonus, here’s how to actually do it! Top ten reasons to get up early every day: 10) Learn! You can browse seven websites [...]